Farm Worker

Job description

PRUNING: Pruning numerous varieties of apple, pear, apricot, and cherry trees according to established company procedures based on the difference in the treatment of different varieties. Work will be performed on trees for long periods of time using a variety of pruning equipment including hand shears, hand loppers, power pruners, chainsaws, hand saws, and 10 ft. or 12 ft. ladders. Pruning may be done from the ground or a ladder up to 12 feet in height or from a motorized platform. Workers may be required to selectively prune only trees of a certain size and color as instructed by the crew boss.

*Remove signs of diseased wood

*Remove crossing branches

*Remove any badly placed or spaced branches

*Remove old water shoot branches

*Thin branches where your tree is still overcrowded

*Remove or shorten inward facing branches Dehorning

*Spur pruning

Workers are expected to possess or acquire pruning skills in order to identify and remove stubs or broken branches, downward-growing branches, branches which rub against each other, shaded interior branches, dead wood and shoots/suckers with hand pruning saws and clippers, mechanized equipment in pruning activities.

Worker will care for young non-producing fruit trees including weeding, hoeing, trunk painting, planting trees, hand fertilizing and growth selection by hand and clipping. Training of fruit trees to trellis, including clipping and tying limbs and shoots to wire training and limb positioning of fruit trees.

Provide general labor to assist in the establishment of new orchard properties and maintaining already established properties, by clearing property, planting trees, building trellis, tree planting and orchard development, repair and spreading of composted material and any other labor considered necessary for the efficient structure of new orchard properties. Farm clean up tasks include picking up garbage around the orchard, removing old string and wire from trellis and orchard blocks, and other hand tasks.

Cherry Tree TRAINING: Training is a process in which the fruit tree is manipulated to increase yield and/or quality. The Worker must possess ability to pick up, handle a 10 ft. or 12 ft. orchard ladder weighing 40 pounds.

Training may be performed from a motorized platform and/or from the ground or ladder. Some example training tasks are but not

limited to:

*Tying, taping or clipping cherry limbs to wires/trellis.

*Tying up or down cherry limbs.

*Training and limb positioning of cherry trees.

*Propping and supporting cherry trees.

Other Job Specifications Include: THIS IS A DESCRIPTION FOR PEARS, AND CHERRIES.

1. Pruning of cherry trees.

2. Training cherry trees to trellis, including clipping and tying limbs and shoots to wire.

3. Training and limb positioning of cherry trees.

4. Cutting pear fire blight

5. Picking numerous varieties of cherries according to established company procedures accounting for difference in the treatment of different varieties.

6. Selectively pick only fruit of a certain color and/or size as instructed by the supervisor.

7. Handle fruit carefully and not bruise or damage fruit when it is placed in the bin.

8. Observation of bruised, damaged or cull fruit by the supervisor will result in a verbal warning. Multiple verbal warnings will result in a written warning and possible disciplinary action including being sent home for the day or resting for a few hours. Ongoing disciplinary action will result in possible dismissal.

9. The Worker must be adept at safely placing and using ladders. Much of the work will be done from an aluminum ladder up to 12 feet in height.

10. Hand tools, such as pruning hooks, shears, pear poles, and/or picking bags will be utilized.

Special Requirements

4e) Must be able to lift and/or load 60lbs.
4f) Work may take place when temperatures are below freezing and above 100 degrees Fahrenheit.
4g) May require extensive pulling and/or pushing of tools, wheelbarrows, fruit containers, etc.
4h) May require worker to sit and/or walk for extensive periods of time while sorting, picking, examining, weeding, transporting, pruning, etc.
4i) Workers will be required to stoop and/or bend over while performing farm labor such as weeding, irrigating, pruning, picking, removing debris, etc.
4j) There will be repetitive movements while performing most of the farm labor duties, for example picking, sorting, pruning, shoveling, weeding, etc.

GENERAL CONDITIONS: Field work begins at the assigned time shortly after daylight. Work may be performed during light rain and in high humidity and in freezing or high heat temperatures.